• Challenge,  On Writing

    A Possible New Workshop Idea

    Saturday Night Brainstorming… I figured I would run this out here, see if any response. Thinking about a full workshop on killing critical voice. So one of the things that would be in the workshop is this one method… ——– When writers are having issues with critical voice, stopping them, I sort of off-hand tell them to stop caring. Critical voice feeds on caring. But then in the same breath, I tell the writer to do the best they can. So one person today asked me how you do the best you can without caring?  I realized I needed to do a lot more explanation. First off, what is the…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

    Up Too Late…

    Way Too Late It Seems… Except that I am only up to my normal time, but since I have been getting up early, Kris is worried. I hate to make her worry, but honestly I can make it on five hours of sleep a night for five days just fine. Past that, not so much, but for a major workshop like the anthology going on right now, talking with people late into the night is great fun. And only another day. And I am learning a ton and feeling very blessed for some good friends as well. If I haven’t responded to a letter you sent me today, please bare…

  • Challenge,  running

    Well, That Was Fun…

    Actually the Run Was Fun… Then I got home and couldn’t load the first assignment to the Anthology workshop group list. So after giving it some time and a dozen different tries, I created an entire new workshop on Teachable that no one could see but the people I sent direct links to it. And I put the first assignment in the anthology workshop there. Did a cover for it and everything. And just about as I was about to start emailing everyone in the workshop with the code, I tried one more time and ended up loading the assignment. So if anyone in the anthology workshop has not gotten…

  • On Writing,  publishing,  workshops

    Science Fiction Study Along Craft Workshop

    A Reminder… I will be starting up the email group tomorrow for those attending the Science Fiction Craft Workshop here in Las Vegas in January.  The workshop is taught by Hugo Award winning editor and writer, Kristine Kathryn Rusch. But if you can’t make it to Las Vegas, the best way to take the class is on Teachable with the Science Fiction Study Along Craft Workshop. The workshop is January 24th – 28th, but the reason this is starting up so early is that there is a reading list and Kris wants everyone to have enough time to read everything she assigns. Both those coming to Las Vegas and those…

  • Challenge,  Fun Stuff,  workshops

    I Warned You There Would Be Pictures

    Actually Only One Photo Is Needed… About fourteen writers from the anthology workshop got up early and went out to run. Plus about five writers to cheer us on. Super fun. We had doughnuts waiting for us back in the anthology suite in the hotel for when we got done running and before we started into the workshop. The run was a 5k charity run with lots of celebs and others from around Vegas out to support it. Joe Cron said we should do a group shot before the start and we got photo-bombed by two members of the Blue Man Group. (One is holding the boombox over Joe’s head.…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

    Magic Bakery Workshop Moved to Classic

    I Pulled It From the February Line-up… I looked back over the records and no one had taken the Magic Bakery workshop since last spring I think. So no point in listing it as a monthly workshop anymore, even though I think it is one of the most important workshops we have done. So now only nine workshops offered in February. I will continue to work to clean up old workshops so there is room for new ones this spring. So the Magic Bakery workshop is now a classic workshop. And it has been added to the Lifetime Subscription as a Classic workshop, and I left the original one there…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Anthology Workshop

    Write Six Stories, Then Possibly Sell Them… I am sort of surprised, in an odd way, that for the first time in years, the anthology workshop is not full at this point. We have five spots left open and the sign-ups end on November 24th because the writing starts on the 25th. Of course, almost all the northwest people are no longer coming. For years they had it easy. But for everyone else, Vegas is cheaper to get to than the coast and a ton easier in March. Let me change that metaphor. Light years easier. This might be the best workshop we do. But also the most frightening because…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Great Discussions

    As Is Normal… These major workshops always have great discussions. Impossible not to when you put fifty or so professional writers in the same room and late at night in a big suite and talk writing all day and night. This Master Business Class is about over, sadly. I have enjoyed the talks and focus on the business of writing. Maybe more this year than over the last few years, actually. And that is going some. I will talk about it more here over the next few days as I get caught up. Some fun stuff. Stay tuned. And anyone interested in signing up for next year’s Master Business Class…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

    Great Questions On Study Along Workshops

    Some Answers, I Hope… — Do Lifetime Subscription to the Study Along automatically get into the workshops? Yes, Study Along Lifetime Subscriptions automatically get in to any workshop they want that is in the subscription. No need to sign up. I will send out the reading list to everyone signed up and all lifetime subscribers with each workshop. And the first assignment. You can decide with each workshop (as a lifetime subscriber) if you want to participate fully, or only watch the videos, or whatever. Lifetime subscription gives you complete options. — Could You Be A Little More Clear on What is Included? Study Along Participants get… — Reading List…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  publishing

    SuperStars Writing Seminars

    I Am Lucky Enough To Be An Instructor Here… Today was called a craft day and for over three hours I talked about Writing Into the Dark. And then had a wonderful lunch with ten writers talking all sorts of fun things. And then spent dinner with three old friends that I wish I could see a lot more. So except for the altitude issues where I find myself suddenly out of breath (yes, I am drinking a lot of water, but I come from sea level and this town is over 6,000 feet up), I’m having a blast. Great seeing friends, meeting new people, and wonderful writing conversations. I’m…